29 Tips for Gaining and Retaining a Donor Base

According to Rich, the structure of a development effort for a membership program has three main components: methods to acquire donors with benefits, a program to retain donors, and efforts to move members into donor clubs and major giving.

When deciding whether or not to have a membership program for your organization, Rich suggested asking and answering the following questions:

• How would a membership program support our mission?
• Why do we need and want members?
• Do we have tangible benefits that make sense and correspond to the dues we are asking?
• Are we able to distribute and provide the benefits in a timely manner?
• Are we able to solicit members during the year for other projects if necessary?
• Are we able to provide member service?
• Do we have a consistent communications program?
• Are there activities or programs that we can provide?
• Do we offer recognition for members (membership cards, for example)?
• Do we have the human and financial resources to keep the membership program going?

Her 29 tips for gaining and retaining a donor base are: